FREAK: "Most of my songs are about people who piss me off"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]18-year-old Connar Ridd - aka FREAK - makes the kind of racket that deserves to be played at ear-splitting volumes: messy, packed with attitude and heaps of fun.

Hey Connar, what first got you interested in making music, and what did you listen to growing up?
My dad got me a guitar for Christmas when I was eight and ever since I’ve been obsessed with music and writing songs. When I was younger I listened to The Kinks, Nirvana, Marilyn Manson and Atomic Kitten.

What are your favourite things to write about? Some of your songs are pretty angsty…
I write about real, everyday things I see happening or that happen to me. Most of them are about people who piss me off, or about myself.

How much cake did you get through for the ‘Cake’ video, and how much did you hate custard come the end of it?
We had tonnes of cakes - too many to count! There were about 60 cans of custard that we mixed with jam. I absolutely hate custard now. I smelt like it for days and it was all in my guitar, but my hair smelt like strawberries so it wasn’t all bad.

Is being a musician all you hoped it would be?
Being a musician is incredible. I get to play my music to loads of people with my two BFF’s as well as writing songs everyday and shooting music videos. Its literally a dream.

What do you do for fun?
I never really stop making music but when I do I like painting, playing football, skateboarding and watching really shit TV.

How did you get booked for the INHEAVEN tour? Are you guys buds?
I don't personally know INHEAVEN but I’m a big fan and love their most recent single, Treats. As soon as I heard there was an opportunity to tour supporting them I was messaging my manager like ‘we need to get on this!’[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="2/3

[vc_column_text]Are there any other new bands you’d recommend at the mo?
Definitely, bands like Yonaka, Black Honey, CABBAGE and Bad Sounds are wicked. There are loads of really sick upcoming bands.

You’re playing Live at Leeds soon, too - have you ‘done’ a festival before?
Yeah we played Reading & Leeds last year which was incredible. The shows were mental. I can’t wait to start the festival season properly this year, it’s going to be mad.

What else are you up to this year? Do you have big plans for 2017?
Definitely. Just releasing loads of new music and videos as well as tours. I’m really excited.

Anything else we should know?
Everyone’s the same. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3